Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

We all know that deregulation and red tape are issues that we need to do something more about. We know in this bill that there are significant provisions that cover things like removing the superseded standard form agreement provisions that are outlined in the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code, which requires carriers to maintain duplicate summaries for each product and service.

I could go on. When I have been out talking to businesses—and the members opposite would be talking to businesses too if they were engaging with their communities—and whether it is Business SA, or the resources sector; whether it is the Royal Automobile Association, the South Australian Freight Council Incorporated, the Manuale Engineering or the Master Builders Association—the list goes on—they all say the same thing. They are all over the red tape and the compliance, and want greater it deregulation and the removal of these barriers that restrict their opportunity to do business.

We know that the Business Council of Australia has reported that an environmental approval process for one of its members cost the company more than $20 million, required more than 4,000 meetings and led to a 12,000-page report. These are the types of examples that we get when we are out there talking to businesses—small businesses. We are all about making it easier for businesses in the community. It is better for them to get on with doing what they do best, and that is their core business. It is not filling out forms. It is not filling out regulatory burden. That is why we are looking at removing these types restrictions on their businesses.

I will give you another one: the removal of Telstra's standard marketing plan and policy statement requirements—

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